Immunomodulatory properties of a lemon-quince preparation (Gencydo®) as an indicator of anti-allergic potency.

Introduction: Gencydo®, a combination of lemon (Citrus limon) juice and aqueous quince (Cydonia oblonga) extract has been used traditionally in anthroposophical medicine for treating patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma. Because there are no reports about the mode of action, we investigated the anti-allergic effects of this preparation in vitro by using cell lines and primary cells in various biological and immunological endpoints.

Materials And Methods: The release of soluble mediators from basophilic cells, mast cells and lung epithelial cells, which are essential for the initiation of early- and late-phase allergic reactions, was analyzed in relation to the synthetic anti-allergic drugs azelastine and dexamethasone.

A shortcut from plasma to chromatographic analysis: straightforward and fast sample preparation for analysis of green tea catechins in human plasma.

This paper describes a new and straightforward method for determination of the green tea catechins epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate in human plasma. Sample preparation includes addition only of dimethylformamide and trichloroacetic acid. After centrifugation, the supernatant can be injected into the HPLC.

(-)-Catechin in cocoa and chocolate: occurrence and analysis of an atypical flavan-3-ol enantiomer.

Cocoa contains high levels of different flavonoids. In the present study, the enantioseparation of catechin and epicatechin in cocoa and cocoa products by chiral capillary electrophoresis (CCE) was performed. A baseline separation of the catechin and epicatechin enantiomers was achieved by using 0.

Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds.

The antioxidant capacity of methanol and ethanol seed extracts from Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) against the reactive oxygen species (ROS) peroxyl radicals, peroxynitrite, and hydroxyl radicals was studied with the total oxidant scavenging capacity (TOSC) assay in a modified and automated version. Cold methanol digestion was the most efficient extraction method with respect to the antioxidant capacity.

Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits.

The antioxidant capacities of 11 commercial and non-commercial samples of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) fruit pulp were studied with the total oxidant scavenging capacity assay in a modified and automated version against three reactive oxygen species. The antioxidant capacities of all purple açaí samples were found to be excellent against peroxyl radicals, good against peroxynitrite and poor against hydroxyl radicals compared with common European fruit and vegetable juices recently analysed.

Identification and quantification of polyphenols in carob fruits (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and derived products by HPLC-UV-ESI/MSn.

The polyphenolic patterns of carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and derived products were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-UV absorption-electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry after pressurized liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction. In carob fiber, 41 individual phenolic compounds could be identified.

TGF-beta1 impairs homocysteine metabolism in human renal cells: possible implications for transplantation.

We hypothesized that TGF-beta1 influences the metabolism of homocysteine (Hcy) and increases its cellular export, which may lead to hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with renal transplants. We exposed human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (huRPTECs) to different concentrations of TGF-beta1, IL-1alpha, IL-10, or methionine and measured total Hcy (tHcy) in culture supernatants. We then examined the relationship between plasma levels of tHcy and TGF-beta1 in renal graft recipients.

Automated sample preparation by pressurized liquid extraction-solid-phase extraction for the liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric investigation of polyphenols in the brewing process.

The analysis of polyphenols from solid plant or food samples usually requires laborious sample preparation. The liquid extraction of these compounds from the sample is compromised by apolar matrix interferences, an excess of which has to be eliminated prior to subsequent purification and separation. Applying pressurized liquid extraction to the extraction of polyphenols from hops, the use of different solvents sequentially can partly overcome these problems.

Online coupling of pressurized liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography for automated analysis of proanthocyanidins in malt.

A new instrumental setup for automated extraction of solid samples by online coupling of pressurized liquid extraction, automated SPE (solid-phase extraction) and HPLC is presented. From the extraction to the chromatogram no manual sample handling is required. The application to the determination of proanthocyanidins in malt reduces time and manual work to a minimum compared to former manual methods.

Effect of MTHFR 1298A-->C and MTHFR 677C-->T genotypes on total homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B(12) plasma concentrations in kdiney graft recipients.

The effect of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C-->T and 1298A-->C on total homocysteine (tHcy), folate and vitamin B(12) levels was investigated in 733 kidney graft recipients. The six major genotype combinations were used as grouping variables, and age, gender, BMI, serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance and ln-folate, ln-vitamin B(12), or logarithmus naturalis tHcy (ln-tHcy) were used as covariates in three ANCOVA and multiple stepwise linear regression models. Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in 49.

Effect of high dose folic acid therapy on hyperhomocysteinemia in hemodialysis patients: results of the Vienna multicenter study.

Homocysteine is associated with atherosclerosis and enhanced cardiovascular risk. In previous studies, treatment with folic acid up to 15 mg/d failed to correct hyperhomocysteinemia in the majority of end-stage renal disease patients. A dose of 30 or 60 mg of folic acid per day was compared with 15 mg/d in an attempt to normalize hyperhomocysteinemia in 150 hemodialysis patients.